Cataracts? What cataracts? It's life through a new lens for pensioner Richard Sharpe

Pensioner Richard Sharpe has done away with his distance glasses and still wonders at the operation which has helped him to see again.

He had been worried when an annual eye check-up revealed he had a cataract forming.

Having the vision in one eye compromised is bad enough but for the 84-year-old the consequence was more serious.

That is because he lost the sight in his left eye about 20 years ago and was reliant on his "good" eye.

Richard, from Evington, said: "I just about scraped through the eye test but the optician said I would be lucky to be able to do that in a year's time.

"Until then, I hadn't really realised there was a problem.

"I was then told that it would be difficult to have the operation on the NHS because the doctors were worried about me having sight in only one eye.

"I wondered what I was going to do.

"It was getting more and more difficult to see.

"I found that if I walked carefully and with a stick I could get into town, but I often wondered what would happen a few years down the line."

After weeks pondering his dilemma, Richard decided to contact a consultant at Leicester's Spire Hospital, who provided private treatment.

Richard said: "I finally came to my senses.

"This doctor had operated on both of my wife's cataracts."

Richard was told the operation would not be a problem and, in addition, it was suggested he might like to have a "premium" lens, which would help improve the sight in his "good" eye. Richard, who is married with two children and three grandchildren, said: "I have an astigmatism (the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens) and the consultant said this new lens would help this."

He had the operation at Leicester's Spire Hospital.

Richard said: "When I was allowed to remove the eye cover I was absolutely amazed.

"Looking out over Leicester I could make out Old John and Beacon Hill, whereas before they had always been in a mist.

"I have had to wear glasses for 30-odd years and always had to keep changing from reading to distance glasses.

"Now I only need them for reading.

"When I went for my check-up after the operation the doctor told me I wasn't supposed to be able to see the last three lines on the eye chart and that he didn't need to see me any more."

Richard, who worked as a draughtsman and was used to driving all over Britain is also back to driving.

"It's good to be able to get back to driving again. I had just thought my poor eye sight was something which comes with age.

"I found that is not always the case."

Cataracts are cloudy patches which develop in the lens of the eye and can cause blurred or misty vision.

The lens is transparent and is just behind the centre of the eye, which allows light to get to the back of the eye, to the retina. Cataracts are much more of a problem in older people – there are rare types which affect babies and young children.

The cause of cataracts is unknown, although it has been suggested they could be due to a change in the proteins which make up the lens.

Other factors such as a family history of cataracts, smoking, regularly drinking too much alcohol, poor diet or long exposure of eyes to the sunlight are also thought to play a part. Many with cataracts will eventually need surgery to replace the affected lens.

Cataracts, which are not painful, may develop in both eyes but affect each differently.

Where cataracts have developed, sight will become blurred or misty.

People may also find it difficult to see in bright or dim light. Some may have double vision or see a circle of light around bright lights, such as street lights.

Ray Chaudhuri, is a consultant ophthalmologist at Leicester's Spire Hospital.

He said: "Cataract surgery is now the most common eye surgery in the UK.

"People are living longer so this number will continue to grow.

"In the main, cataracts are age-related and they happen when the camera lens of the eye becomes opaque.

"It can be corrected by replacing the lens.

"The operation takes about 20 minutes and is almost exclusively done under local anaesthetic."

One of the biggest breakthroughs in recent years is the use of "premium" lenses.

Mr Chaudhuri, who is also a consultant ophthalmologist at Leicester's hospitals, said: "The lens can correct the curvature of the cornea.

"They are multi-focal and custom-made and when fitted can mean that patients no longer have to wear glasses."

Although the lenses, which are only available privately, are an advance, Mr Chaudhuri warned they do not always achieve perfect vision for the patient.

He said: "Patients do have to be carefully selected for this surgery.

"Some can experience a halo effect around the edge of their sight, particularly at night."